Product handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for and a method of handling a product length which has been formed into a continuous series of rings, and which because of previous manufacturing operations, the rings making up the relatively short front and tail end sections of the product length are unacceptable, while the rings making up the major intermediate section of the product length are acceptable. The unacceptable rings are separated from the acceptable rings at a location overlying a coil forming chamber. A plurality of collecting devices are indexed through the coil forming chamber to collect the acceptable and unacceptable rings into separate coils.

[ Nov. 26, 1974 PRODUCT HANDLING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Albert Hauck, Friedrichstrasse 84,

59 Siegen, Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 341,933

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3,176,385 4/1965 Morgan et al. 242/83 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,047,375 11/1966 Great Britain 140/1 Primary ExaminerLowel1 A. Larson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thompson, Birch, Gauthier & Samuels [5 7 ABSTRACT An apparatus for and a method of handling a product length which has been formed into a continuous series of rings, and which because of previous manufacturing operations, the rings making up the relatively short front and tail end sections of the product length are unacceptable, while the rings making up the major intermediate section of the product length are acceptable. The unacceptable rings are separated from the acceptable rings at a location overlying a coil forming chamber. A plurality of collecting devices are indexed through the coil forming chamber to collect the acceptable and unacceptable rings into separate coils.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEL 2:0?261974 sum 2 or a PATENIEL Hm! 2 6 I974 SHEEI 7 BF 8 w i I {I PATENTEL km! 26 I974 SHEEI 8 BF 8 PRODUCT HANDLING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the art of hot rolling a product, for example steel rod, wherein the product is cooled in direct sequence with the rolling operation by a process which includes the step of arranging the rod in overlapping non-concentric rings on a conveyor for movement through a cooling zone. The invention is concerned in particular with a novel and improved apparatus and method for receiving the cooled rings from the delivery end of the conveyor, for separating the rings making up the unacceptable front and tail end sections of the product length from those making up the acceptable intermediate section, and for collecting both acceptable and unacceptable rings into separate coils.

By way of background, it is now generally accepted by those skilled in the art that in the rolling of steel rod, uniform metallurgical properties over substantially the entire product length can best be achieved by cooling the rod in a controlled manner in direct sequence with the rolling operation. This controlled cooling usually involves an initial quench which takes place as the product leaves the last roll stand and passes through a series of water-cooled delivery pipes. Thereafter, the product is formed into rings which are deposited in an overlapping non-concentric pattern on a moving conveyor. The conveyor moves through a second cooling zone in which the overlapping rings are exposed to a controlled application of air, which completes the cooling operation and achieves the above-mentioned uniform metallurgical properties. Thereafter, the rings are collected into a coil which is then compacted and tied.

For reasons which are well known to those skilled in the art, and hence will not require explanation here, the front and tail ends of a billet length of hot rolled steel rod are usually off-gauge and hence unacceptable. These unacceptable ends are trimmed and removed before the reassembled coil is compacted and tied. Conventional methods of performing this trimming operation have been less than satisfactory. More particularly, these trimming operations are usually performed manually by operating personnel stationed at the reforming station. This entails separating a number of rings from the bottom and/or top of the coil, which of itself is difficult because it necessitates up-ending the coil in order to gainaccess to the bottom rings, cutting the rod with pneumatically or hydraulically actuated hand shears, and then removing the severed rings to an adjacent storage bin, from which they must eventually be taken and either chopped up into short scrap lengths, or collected into a scrap bundle. This is a time-comsuming and somewhat dangerous operation, due to the fact that the severed rings have sharp ends and are'springy and awkward to handle.

The present invention has as its general objective the provision of an improved apparatus and method for obviating the foregoing problems. A more specific object of the present invention includes the provision of means for automatically separating and severing the rings making up the unacceptable front and/or tail ends of the product length at the reforming station while the cooled rings are being assembled into a coil. This obviates the necessity of subsequently up-ending a completed coil in order to gain access to the bottom rings. Another object of the present invention is the provision of means for automatically removing the severed unacceptable rings from the coil forming station, and for collecting the same in coil form for quick and easy removal. By performing these operations automatically, the need for constant attention by operating personnel is avoided, and this in turn reduces operating expenses while at the same time eliminating a safety hazard.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying diagrammatic illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of one embodiment of the present invention with certain portions shown in section, and other portions eliminated or broken away;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines 2-2, 3-3 and 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of an apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5; and,

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of a shear arrangement.

With initial reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus includes a cylindrical reforming tub I which is supported in a fixed position overlying a coil forming chamber 2, the latter enclosing a vertically disposed mandrel or sail 3. The reforming tub I is positioned directly adjacent to the delivery end of a conveyor 4 which is adapted to carry overlapping rod rings through a cooling zone (not shown). The conveyor includes an arrangement of rolls 5 at its delivery end which assure proper delivery of the rings from the conveyor 4 into the reforming tub I.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of pins 6a-6d are arranged around the outside of the reforming tub 1. Each pin pivotally supports a bell crank 7a7d, and each bell crank in turn carries a somewhat L-shaped separating finger 8a-8d. The bell cranks 7a-7d are interconnected by links I1al 1c, and the bell crank 7a is connected to a piston-cylinder unit 10, the latter being preferably although not necessarily pneumatically actuated. When the piston rod of the unit 10 is extended, the bell cranks 7a7d will be pivoted in unison about the pins 6a-6d, and this in turn will cause the distal ends of the separating fingers 8a-8d to enter the reforming tub I through appropriately positioned openings 9a-9d. The extent to which the separating fingers 8a-8d are caused to enter the reforming tub is indicated by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 2. The separating fingers will hereinafter be collectively referred to as a first intercepting means 8.

As can best be seen in FIG. 1, a second intercepting means 12 is also provided at a location spaced beneath the first intercepting means 8. The intercepting means 12 is identical in construction and operation to intercepting means 8, and its operation is controlled by a second piston-cylinder unit 13.

A separating means 14 is located beneath the second intercepting means 12. As is best shown in FIG. 3, the separating means 14 includes a pair of planar centering members 17, 18, each of which is pivotally supported by means of a pin 15, 16 located outside the reforming tub 1. The centering members 17, 18 are pivotally manipulated between closed operative positions located beneath the reforming tub I, as shown in FIG. 1, and open inoperative positions removed from beneath the tub, by means of piston-cylinder units 19, 20. The centering members have curved inner edges which are spaced apart to provide a generally S-shaped slot 27 when the centering members are operatively closed.

The centering members l7, 18 are further provided respectively with upstanding pins 22, 21. Pin 21. pivotally supports a lever 23 which is connected to a pistoncylinder unit 25, the latter being carried by the centering member 18. Likewise, pin 22 pivotally supports another lever 24 which is connected to a piston-cylinder unit 26 carried by centering member 17. The levers 23, 24 are movable under the influence of the pistoncylinder units 25, 26 between closed operative positions as shown in FIG. 3 and open inoperative removed from the underside of the reforming tub I. As each lever 23, 24 is operatively closed, it traverses approximately one-half the length of the S-shaped slot 27.

The lever 23 is provided at its inside end with a notch 23', one side of which is defined by a fixed blade 28 which is aligned with the inside edge of centering member 17 when both the centering member 17 and the lever 23 are operatively closed. The opposite side of the notch 23' is defined by a movable blade 29 which is reciprocally actuated by means of a piston-cylinder unit 30 carried on the underside of centering member 18. The combined operation of the centering members 17, 18, the levers 23, 24 and the cutting blades 28, 29 will be described subsequently.

A table 36 underlies the reforming tub 1. The table is rotatable by known means (not shown) about a central axis 37 in the direction indicated by arrow 18. Axis 37 is parallel to and spaced laterally from the path of ring descent through the reforming tub I. The table supports four vertically disposed mandrel or sail assemblies 3. The sail assemblies are arranged at 90intervals at locations or stations A-D with station A being within the confines of the coil forming chamber 2. Each sail assembly includes an upstanding cylindrical tube or mandrel 31 which is provided along its outer surface with four pairs of ribs 32. Each tube 31 terminates at its lower end in a radially extending double-walled bottom 33, to which is affixed an interior centering cap 34. Each bottom 33 sits on the table 36 and is slotted as at 35 at 90intervals. The table 36 has four fixed centering arbors 39a39d. The centering arbors have conical surfaces which cooperate with the centering caps 34 to locate the sail assemblies on the table 36.

Around each centering arbor 39(1-3911 is located axially movable sleeve 40 which can be reciprocated vertically in relation to the table 36 by any known means (not shown). When raised, the sleeves contact the bottom edges of the centering caps 34 and raise the sail assemblies off of the table 36, as indicated by the dotdash lines in FIG. 1.

The table 36 also carries four pairs of vertically movable sliders 41, 42 which are rectangular in crosssection (see FIG. 4) to permit their vertical movement through the slots35 in the bottoms 33 of the sail assemblies 3. The sliders 41, 42 are operated respectively by piston-cylinder units 43, 44.

As previously indicated, the sail assembly 3 which is located beneath the reforming tub I is surrounded by the coil forming chamber 2 during the coil forming operation. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14, chamber 2 includes two chamber halves 45a and 45b, each of which includes two vertically spaced horizontal support plates 46, 47 between which extend a plurality of posts 48a-48d. The posts may, if desired, be exteriorily connected by plates 49. The chamber halves are mounted for pivotal movement about vertical axes defined by shafts 51, 52, which are laterally spaced from and parallel to the sail 3, and which are supported by an adjacent fixed frame structure 50. The chamber halves are pivoted about their respective axes by means (not shown) between closed operative positions, as illustrated in FIG. 4 by the position of chamber half 45b, and open inoperative positions, again as illustrated in FIG. 4 by the position of chamber half 450.

Between the points at which the two shafts 51, 52 are journalled for rotation on frame 50, they are provided with generally square cross-sections to which are attached guide rails 53a and 53b. Vertically adjustable coil support plates 56, 57 are mounted by means of rollers 55 on the guide rails 53a and 53b. Each coil support plates 56, 57 is appropriately shaped to cover approximately half of the bottom 33 of the sail assembly 3, and is suitably notched both interiorly and exteriorly to accommodate the central mandrel 31 of the sail assembly, and the guide posts 48a-d. The coil support plates 56, 57 pivot with the chamber halfs 45a, 45b about the axes defined by shafts 51, 52. Each plate 56, 57 may be additionally guided by a roller 58 in contact with the post 4811.

The coil support plates 56, 57 are further provided adjacent to their respective shafts 51, 52 with vertically spaced tracks 59 between which are located rollers 60a, 60b respectively. The rollers 60a, 60b are carried on a lift carriage 61 which is mounted by means of guide rollers 62 on a vertically extending post 63, the latter forming part of the frame 50. The lift carriage is vertically adjusted by means of a piston-cylinder assembly 64, and this vertical adjustment is transmitted through rollers 60a, 60b and the tracks 59 to the coil support plates 56, 57. The coil support plates 56, 57 may thus be vertically adjusted between raised positions as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 1, and lowered positions as shown by the dot-dash lines.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14 operates in the following manner: initially, the upper and lower intercepting means 8 and 12 are retracted to their inoperative positions outside of the refomiing tub 1. The centering members 17 and 18 of the separating means 14 are also retracted from beneath the reforming tub 1. A

sail assembly 3 is positioned at station A beneath the reforming tub I on centering arbor 39a, and the chamber halves 45a and 45b of the coil forming chamber 2 are closed. The coil support plates 56, 57 are in the raised positions as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 1, and all of the sliders 41, 42 are positioned as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 1. Sail assemblies 3 are also located by the other centering arbors 3912-11 at stations B, C and D.

The conveyor 4 now feeds the initial overlapping rings which make up the unacceptable front end of a billet length of rod into the reforming tub I. Usually, this off-gauge front end makes up about ten rings. These first ten rings are allowed to drop in a generally helical formation through the reforming tub 1 into the coil forming chamber 2 where they encircle the upper end of the sail assembly 3 and are supported on the raised plates 56, 57. After the first l unacceptable rings have been fed into the coil forming chamber 2, the piston-cylinder unit 13 is actuated to operatively position the separating fingers of the second intercepting means 12. As these separating fingers enter the reforming tub I, all subsequent acceptable rings are temporarily supported thereon, and are connected to the unacceptable rings in the coil forming chamber 2 by a single connecting strand.

The piston-cylinder units 19 and 20 are then actuated to operatively position the centering members 17 and 18 of the separating means 14. This causes the connecting strand to be confined between the inside edges of the centering members at some point along the length of the S-shaped slot 27. Thereafter, the piston-cylinder units 25, 26 are actuated to operatively position the levers 23, 24. This causes the connecting strand to be further confined at a central location 65 (see FIG. 3). Once this has been accomplished, piston-cylinder unit 30 is actuated to move the movable blade 29 towards the fixed blade 28 with the result that the connecting strand is severed. With the connecting strand thus severed, the unacceptable rings in the coil forming chamber 2 are completely separated from the rings continuing to accumulate on the second intercepting means 12. This having been accomplished, the centering elements 17, 18 of the separating means 14 are retracted to their inoperative positions.

Thereafter, the piston-cylinder unit 64 is actuated to lower the coil support plates 56, 57 to the elevation shown by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 1. At the same time, the sliders 41, 42 adjacent to the centering arbor 39a are raised so that the unacceptable rings are lifted off of the coil support plates 56, 57. The coil forming chamber 2 is then opened by pivoting the two chamber halves 45a, 45b to the open positions as shown by the position of chamber half 45a in FIG. 4. The sliders 41,

' 42 are then lowered to deposit the unacceptable rings on the bottom 33 of the sail assembly 3. Once this has been accomplished, the table 36 is rotated 90 in the direction of arrow 38, thus carrying the unacceptable rings out from beneath the reforming tub I to station B while at the same time positioning an empty sail assembly 3 (the sail assembly above centering arbor 39d) at station A. Once this has been accomplished, the coil forming chamber 2 is again closed and the coil support plates 56, 57 are again raised to the positions shown by the solid lines in FIG. 1. The separating fingers of the second intercepting means 12 are then retracted from the reforming tub 1, thereby allowing the acceptable rings temporarily accumulated thereon to drop downwardly into the coil forming chamber 2 where they accumulate around the sail assembly 3 in coil form on the coil support plate 56, 57. As the rings continue to accumulate in the coil forming chamber 2, the coil support plates 56, 57 are gradually lowered through actuation of the piston-cylinder unit 64. As soon as a full coil has been accumulated in the coil forming chamber 2, the second intercepting means 12 is again operatively positioned to prevent further entry of rings into the coil forming chamber. The separating means 14 is next actuated in the same manner as previously described to separate the fully formed coil in the coil forming chamber 2 from the rings continuing to accumulate on the second intercepting means 12. Once this has been accomplished, the sliders 41, 42 are again raised, and the coil forming chamber 2 is opened. The sliders 41, 42 are next lowered, so that the fully formed coil is deposited on the bottom 33 of the sail assembly. For purposes of the present discussion, it will be assumed that the billet length of rod is to be subdivided into two coils. Accordingly, the table 36 is now rotated through an angle of l in the direction of arrow 38. This positions the fully formed coil at station C, while the sail assembly carrying the unacceptable front end rings is moved to station D, and an empty sail assembly (the one overlying centering arbor 39b) is located beneath the reforming tub 1 at station A.

At this point, the coil forming chamber 2 is again closed and the coil support plates 56, 57 are raised. The separating fingers of the second intercepting means 12 are then retracted to again permit the acceptable rings which have temporarily accumulated thereon to drop downwardly into the coil forming chamber 2. Formation of another coil is then continued in the manner previously described. As formation of the second coil approaches completion, the unacceptable rings making up the end portion of the product length approach the reforming tub. As these rings enter the reforming tub, the second intercepting means 12 is again actuated to separate them from the coil in the coil forming chamber 2. The separating means 14 is then actuated to cut the connecting strand. The coil in the coil forming chamber is then elevated by the sliders 41, 42, the coil forming chamber 2 opened, and the sliders are then lowered to drop the coil onto the bottom 33 of the sail assembly 3. The table 36 is then rotated through an angle of to position the second fully formed coil at station B, while at the same time returning the sail assembly which overlies centering arbor 39a, and which carries the unacceptable rings making up the front end of the product length, back to station A. The coil forming chamber 2 is then closed. While this is occurring, the unacceptable rings making up the front end of the next product length have already entered the reforming tub I and have begun to accumulate directly on top of the unacceptable rings making up the tail end of the last product length. All of these unacceptable rings are of course being kept above the coil forming chamber 2 by the operatively positioned intercepting means 12. As soon as the rings making up the unacceptable front end of the next product length have entered the reforming tub 1, the separating fingers of the first intercepting means 8 are operatively positioned. Thereafter, the separating fingers of the intercepting means 12 are retracted from the reforming tub I and thus causes all of the unacceptable rings previously accumulated thereon to drop downwardly into the coil forming chamber 2 to accumulate about the sail assembly 3 located therein. The separating means 14 is then employed to sever the connecting strand which extends from the last unacceptable ring in the coil forming chamber to the rings continuing to accumulate on the first intercepting means 8. Once this has been accomplished, the coil forming chamber 2 and the coil support plates 56, 57 are swivelled outwardly to deposit the off-gauge rings on those previously accumulated on the bottom 33 of the sail assembly.

After a further rotation of table 36 through an angle of 90, which results in the sail assembly carrying the unacceptable rings being positioned at station B while a fresh sail assembly is positioned at station A, the coil forming chamber is again closed, the first intercepting means 8 withdrawn from the reforming tub 1, andthe next coil forming operation is continued.

When the sail assembly overlying centering arbor 39a is fully loaded with unacceptable rings (those making up both front and tail end sections), it will be removed from the table while its opposite counterpart (overlying centering arbor 390) takes over the function of collecting unacceptable rings. Thus, it will be apparent that with four sail assemblies 3 carried on table 36, two sail assemblies will be used to accumulate full coils of acceptable rings, and two sail assemblies will be used to collect unacceptable rings making up the front and tail ends of product lengths being rolled from each billet introduced into the rod mill.

As each sail assembly becomes fully loaded, either with acceptable or unacceptable rings, it is eventually indexed to station C. Here, the sleeve 40 is then elevated to raise the sail assembly 3 to the position shown by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 1. This brings the eye 66 at the upper end of the sail assembly into the range of a hook 67 on a hook carrier 68, 69. Once the hook 67 is engaged in the eye 66, the sleeve 40 is dropped and the loaded sail assembly 3 is carried away from station C by the hook carrier. In the same manner, the hook carrier is used to replace the loaded sail assembly with an empty sail assembly. Thus it can be seen that the hook carrier 68, 69 can be used to transport empty sail assemblies as well as sail assemblies loaded either with full acceptable coils or coils of unacceptable scrap rings. The entire operation is performed automatically, without the need of exposing operating personnel to dangerous working conditions. The unacceptable rings are automatically severed, accumulated and handled in a neat and efficient manner.

With reference now to FIGS. to 8, there is shown another embodiment of the invention which again includes a cylindrical reforming tub 71 located adjacent to the delivery end of a conveyor 72 with guide rolls 73. The reforming tub 71 has associated therewith vertically spaced first and second intercepting means 71' and 71 each of which consists of four separating fingers whose arrangement and method of operation is identical to that of the intercepting means 8 and 12 previously described in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The reforming tub 71 is provided adjacent to its lower end with four bearing blocks 74 which provide journals for the pins 76 of a separating means 75 as shown in FIG. 8. The pins 76 extend vertically from segment-shaped guide elements 77, each of which consists of upper and lower plates 78 and 79 spaced by intermediate plates 80. The guide elements 77 are normally situated outside of the path of ring descent through the reforming tub 71, and are suitably interconnected through adjustable levers 81 in a manner such that the guide elements may be swivelled in unison about their respective pins 76 through the action of a piston-cylinder unit 82. The spacing between the upper and lower plates 78, 79 of the individual guide elements 77 is such that the guide elements, on actuation of the piston-cylinder unit 82, can be pivoted in the manner of an iris diaphragm into the path of ring descent through the reforming tub 71. Between the plates 78, 79 of one of the guide elements 77, there is further provided a pivotal lever 83 which is equipped on its inner end with two shear blades 84, 85, one of which is movable against the other for cutting purposes. The lever 83 is pivotally manipulated by means of a piston cylinder unit 86, and likewise, the shear blade 85 is reciprocally actuated by means of another piston-cylinder unit (not shown).

As is best shown in FIG. 5, a rotatable table 87 is positioned beneath the reforming tub 71. The table is carried by rolls 89 for rotation on an underlying frame 88. Rotation of table 87 occurs about an axis which is parallel to and spaced laterally from the path of ring descent through reforming tub 71. Four chambers 90a-90d are supported at 90 intervals on the table 87. Chambers 90a and 900 provide coil forming recepticles for acceptable rings while chambers 90b and 90d are employed to collect unacceptable rings.

Each of the above referred chambers is defined by a plurality of posts 91a-91d which extend upwardly from the table 87 and which are interconnected at their upper ends by means of U-shaped brackets 92. Flaps 93, 94 are pivotally mounted at opposite ends between the free ends of the U-shaped brackets and the table 87. The flaps may be pivoted by means (not shown) between closed positions as shown in FIG. 5 and outwardly pivoted open positions.

The table 87 is further provided with radial slots 95 which are disposed at 90 intervals and which extend into the areas defined by the chambers 90a-90d. Base plates 97 are located within each chamber. The base plates include depending legs 96 which extend downwardly into the slots 95 in the table 87. The outside edges of the base plate 97 are suitably notched to accommodate and be guided by the upstanding posts 9la-9ld. The chambers 90a-90d are shown located at stations A-D respectively in the drawings.

As can be best seen in FIG. 7, a pair of pistoncylinder units 99, 100 are carried by the frame 88 at station A. The pistoncylinder units 99, 100 are adapted to engage and elevate the base plate 97 of a chamber located at station A.

A first sail assembly 101 is also located at station A between the two piston-cylinder units 99, 100. During rotation of the table 87, sail assembly 101 is depressed to the position indicated by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 6. After the table has been rotated to the desired position, the sail assembly 101 is raised by means of the piston-cylinder unit 102 to the position indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 6.

A second sail assembly 104 is located at station C. Sail assembly 104 may be adjusted axially through any one of the slots 95 in table 87 by means of a pistoncylinder unit 105 between a lowered position as indicated at 104' by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 6 and a raised position indicated by the solid lines. The sail assembly 104 together with its piston-cylinder unit 105 is supported on a frame 106 which is pivotal about its lower end by means of another piston-cylinder unit 107 and is thus movable between an operative vertical position as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 6 and an inclined position as shown by the dot-dash lines at 104".

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 operates in the following manner; at the outset, the intercepting means 71" and 71" are retracted to their inoperative positions outside of the path of ring descent through the reforming tub 71. Likewise the guide elements 77 of the separating means 75 are also retracted outwardly from beneath the reforming tub 71. The sail assembly 101 is elevated to a position in contact with and supporting a cap 103 located within the reforming tub 71. The pivotal flaps 93, 94 of chamber 90a at station A are closed and the two piston-cylinder units 99, 100 are elevated to hold the base plate 97 of chamber 90a in the raised position as shown by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 7.

The conveyor 72 now feeds the unacceptable rings making up the front end of a product length into the reforming tub 71. The rod rings drop over the cap 103, which serves to center and guide the rings as they arrive in the reforming tub, and the rings thereafter drop in a helical formation through the reforming tub where they accumulate around the sail assembly 101, on the raised base plate 97 within the coil forming chamber 90a. When the initial unacceptable rings have been accumulated on the elevated base plate 97, the lowermost intercepting means 71 is operatively positioned to interrupt further descent of rings into the coil forming chamber 90a. When the fingers of the intercepting means 71" are operatively positioned, they also engage and support the cap 103, thus permitting the sail assembly 101 to be lowered sufficiently to accommodate operation of the separating means 75. Thereafter, the piston-cylinder unit 82 of the separating means 75 is actuated, thereby causing the guide element 77 to pivot inwardly and to locate the connecting strand at the center of the path of ring descent. Once this has been accomplished, the piston-cylinder unit 86 is operated to swing the lever 83 inwardly, thereby positioning the cutting blades 84, 85 on opposite sides of the centrally located connecting strand. The movable cutting blade 85 is then reciprocated through a cutting cycle to sever the connecting strand.

After the connecting strand has been severed, and the guide elements 77 of the separating means 75 have been returned to their original positions, the base plate 97 and thesail assembly 101 are fully lowered. The table 87 is then rotatably indexed in a clockwise direction through an angle of 90 to position an empty coil forming chamber (90d) at station A beneath the reforming tub 71. Once this has been accomplished, the sail assembly 101 as well as the base plate 97 of chamber 90d are again elevated. The elevated sail assembly 101 raises the cap 103 from the fingers of the second intercepting means 71", and this in turn permits the latter to be retracted from the reforming tub, thereby permitting the acceptable rings which have been temporarily collected thereon to drop downwardly into the chamber 90d for collection on the raised base plate 97. The base plate is thereafter lowered gradually as the rings continue to accumulate in the foil forming chamber 90d. As soon as one coil has been completely formed around the elevated sail assembly 101 in coil forming chamber 90d, the second intercepting means 71" is again operatively positioned to interrupt further descentof rod rings. The sail assembly 101 is then lowered while the separating means 75 is actuated to cut the connecting strand. Once the sail assembly 101 had dropped beneath the table 87, the latter is rotatably indexed in a clockwise direction through an angle of 180 so that an empty chamber (90b) stands ready at station A beneath the reforming tub 71 while chamber 90d which contains the fully formed coil is now located at station C above the lowered sail assembly 104. While the next coil forming operation is proceeding in chamber 90b at station A, the sail assembly 104 is raised and axially inserted through the coil in chamber 90d. The sail assembly 104 has two laterally extending shoulders 109, 110 which raise the coil from its underlying base plate 97. Once this has been accomplished, the chamber 90d is opened by outwardly pivoting its flaps 93, 94. Then, the piston-cylinder unit 107 is actuated to pivot the frame 106 outwardly, thereby pivotally removing the completed coil from the chamber 90d at station A. An adjacent carriage (not shown) receives the coil from the outwardly inclined sail assembly 104". The sail assembly is axially withdrawn from the coil to deposit the latter in the carriage, and thereafter the frame 106 is pivoted back to its original position before again closing the flaps 93, 94. The carriage carries the coil to another location for further processing.

When handling unacceptable rings making up the tail end of a product length, this embodiment operates in much the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5. More particularly, as the unacceptable rings making up the tail end enter the reforming tub 71, the lower intercepting means 71" is actuated to interrupt further ring descent into the underlying coil forming chamber. The separating means is then actuated to sever the connecting strand and the underlying fully formed coil is removed from beneath the reforming tub in the manner described above. While this is occurring, the unacceptable rings making up the front end of the next product length enter the reforming tub 71 and begin accumulating on the intercepting means 71". As soon as all of the front end rings have been deposited in the reforming tub 71, the upper intercepting means 71 is actuated to isolate all of the unacceptable rings therebeneath. Thereafter, after another chamber has been rotated to a receiving position beneath the reforming tub, the lower intercepting means 71" is retracted to deposit the unacceptable rings into the underlying chamber. The separating device 75 is then actuated to sever the connecting strand, after which the table 87 is again rotated to position an empty chamber beneath the reforming tub 71. The coil forming operation will then continue in this empty chamber after the sail assembly 101 and base plate 97 have been fully elevated, and the upper intercepting means 71" has been retracted.

With the embodiment shown in FIGS. 58, two coil forming chambers, for example chambers d and 90b, are employed to collect the acceptable rod rings into coils, while the other two chambers 90a and 90c are used to collect the unacceptable scrap rings. The sail assembly 104 at station C is used to clear product from all the chambers.

In light of the foregoing, it will now be appreciated by those skilled in the art that use of the present invention is not restricted to the handling of non-concentric overlapping steel rod rings being delivered from a conveyor. Rather, the invention may be employed wherever a product length, be it rod, bar or the like, is to be formed into rings and thereafter collected in coil form.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of disclosures which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. For use with a conveyor carrying a product length which is arranged thereon in a series of overlapping non-concentric rings, and whereby because of previous manufacturing operations, the rings making up the front and/or tail end sections of the product length are unacceptable while the rings making up the remaining intermediate section of the product length are acceptable, an apparatus for separating the unacceptable rings from the acceptable rings and for collecting the acceptable and unacceptable rings in separate coils, said apparatus comprising: reforming means for receiving the rings from the delivery end of the conveyor, said reforming means defining a vertical path of ring descent along which the rings drop in a helical formation under the influence of gravity; a plurality of coil forming means, each of which is movable into and out of a ring receiving position underlying said reforming means and at which position the rings dropping from said reforming means are received and accumulated in coil form by said coil forming means; first and second vertically spaced independently operable intercepting means for interrupting the descent of rings through said reforming means, and for temporarily supporting rings above said coil forming means; and, separating means located beneath said first and second intercepting means between said reforming means and said coil forming means, said separating means being operable to sever a product strand connecting rings accummulated in said coil forming means to rings temporarily supported by said intercepting means.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coil forming means is comprised of vertically extending sail assemblies removably mounted on a support table, said table being rotatably adjustable about an axis which is parallel to and spaced laterally from said path of ring descent to thereby permit selective positioning of said sail assemblies at said ring receiving position where rings dropping from said reforming means will accumulate thereabout in coil form.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by chamber means for containing the rings being accumulated in coil form about a sail assembly positioned at said ring receiving position.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said chamber means is comprised of mating sections which are pivotally adjustable between operative positions surrounding a sail assembly at said ring receiving position and inoperative positions permitting movement of a sail assembly into and out of said ring receiving position as a result of said table being rotatably adjusted. 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by coil support means carried by and vertically adjustable on said mating sections, and means carried by an adjacent frame structure for vertically adjusting said coil support means.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by transport means for removing loaded sail assemblies from said table and for re-positioning empty sail assemblies thereon, said transport means comprising a hook conveyor movable along a path overlying said table and spaced vertically above the circular path of the sail assemblies carried thereon, and means for elevating said sail assemblies from said table to permit engagement thereof with said hook carrier.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coil forming means is comprised of a plurality of coil forming chambers mounted on a support table, said table being rotatably adjustable about an axis which is parallel to and spaced laterally from the path of ring descent to thereby permit selective positioning of said chambers at said ring receiving position, where rings dropping from said reforming means will accumulate therein.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by said table being provided with radial slots extending inwardly from the edges thereof into each of said coil forming chambers.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further characterized by coil support plates contained within and movable vertically in relation to each of said coil forming chambers, each of said coil support plates having a slot therein in vertical alignment with the underlying slot in said table, and means underlying said ring receiving position for vertically adjusting the coil support plates to enclosures located at said ring receiving position.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further characterized by a first sail assembly underlying said reforming means, said sail assembly being adjustable axially between a lowered inoperative position beneath said table, and a raised operative position extending through one of said slots in said table into the coil forming chamber surrounding said slot.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further characterized by each of said coil forming chambers having an opening adjacent to the edge of said table, and a second sail assembly at a position other than that of said first sail assembly, said second sail assembly being axially adjustable between a lowered position beneath said table and a raised position extending through the slot in said table to vertically remove a coil contained within one of said chambers from the coil support plate associated with said one chamber, and means for inclining said raised second sail assembly to remove said coil form said one coil forming chamber through its side opening.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further characterized by means pivotally supported by said coil forming chambers for movement between closed positions blocking said side openings and open positions permitting removal of coils therethrough.

13. For use in handling a product length which has been previously formed into a continuous series of rings and which because of previous manufacturing operations, the rings making up the from and/or tail end sections of the product length are unacceptable, whereas the rings making up the remaining intermediate section are acceptable, an apparatus for separating the unacceptable rings from the acceptable rings and for collecting the acceptable and unacceptable rings in separate coils, said apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving the rings, said receiving means defining a vertical path of ring descent along which the rings drop in a helical formation under the influence of gravity; a plurality of coil forming means, each of which is movable into and out of a coil forming position underlying said receiving means, and at which position the rings dropping from said reforming means are accumulated in coil form by the coil forming means; first and second vertically spaced independently operable intercepting means for interrupting the descent of rings through said receiving means, and for temporarily supporting rings in said receiving means; and, separating means located beneath said first and second intercepting means between said receiving means and said coil forming means; said separating means being operable to sever a product strand connecting rings accumulated product length are acceptable, said method comprising the steps of: (a) separating the unacceptable rings from the acceptable rings at a location overlying a coil forming station, and (b) employing a plurality of collecting devices which are movable into and out of said coil forming station for gathering the acceptable and unacceptable rings into separate coils. 

1. For use with a conveyor carrying a product length which is arranged thereon in a series of overlapping non-concentric rings, and whereby because of previous manufacturing operations, the rings making up the front and/or tail end sections of the product length are unacceptable while the rings making up the remaining intermediate section of the product length are acceptable, an apparatus for separating the unacceptable rings from the acceptable rings and for collecting the acceptable and unacceptable rings in separate coils, said apparatus comprising: reforming means for receiving the rings from the delivery end of the conveyor, said reforming means defining a vertical path of ring descent along which the rings drop in a helical formation under the influence of gravity; a plurality of coil forming means, each of which is movable into and out of a ring receiving position underlying said reforming means and at which position the rings dropping from said reforming means are received and accumulated in coil form by said coil forming means; first and second vertically spaced independently operable intercepting means for interrupting the descent of rings through said reforming means, and for temporarily supporting rings above said coil forming means; and, separating means located beneath said first and second intercepting means between said reforming means and said coil forming means, said separating means being operable to sever a product strand connecting rings accummulated in said coil forming means to rings temporarily supported by said intercepting means.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coil forming means is comprised of vertically extending sail assemblies removably mounted on a support table, said table being rotatably adjustable about an axis which is parallel to and spaced laterally from said path of ring descent to thereby permit selective positioning of said sail assemblies at said ring receiving position where rings dropping from said reforming means will accumulate thereabout in coil form.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by chamber means for containing the rings being accumulated in coil form about a sail assembly positioned at said ring receiving position.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said chamber means is comprised of mating sections which are pivotally adjustable between operative positions surrounding a sail assembly at said ring receiving position and inoperative positions permitting movement of a sail assembly into and out of said ring receiving position as a result of said table being rotatably adjusted.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by coil support means carried by and vertically adjustable on said mating sections, and means carried by an adjacent frame structure for vertically adjusting said coil support means.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized by transport means for removing loaded sail assemblies from said table and for re-positioning empty sail assemblies thereon, said transport means comprising a hook conveyor movable along a path overlying said table and spaced vertically above the circular path of the sail assemblies carried thereon, and means for elevating said sail assemblies from said table to permit engagement thereof with said hook carrier.
 7. The apParatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coil forming means is comprised of a plurality of coil forming chambers mounted on a support table, said table being rotatably adjustable about an axis which is parallel to and spaced laterally from the path of ring descent to thereby permit selective positioning of said chambers at said ring receiving position, where rings dropping from said reforming means will accumulate therein.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by said table being provided with radial slots extending inwardly from the edges thereof into each of said coil forming chambers.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further characterized by coil support plates contained within and movable vertically in relation to each of said coil forming chambers, each of said coil support plates having a slot therein in vertical alignment with the underlying slot in said table, and means underlying said ring receiving position for vertically adjusting the coil support plates to enclosures located at said ring receiving position.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further characterized by a first sail assembly underlying said reforming means, said sail assembly being adjustable axially between a lowered inoperative position beneath said table, and a raised operative position extending through one of said slots in said table into the coil forming chamber surrounding said slot.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further characterized by each of said coil forming chambers having an opening adjacent to the edge of said table, and a second sail assembly at a position other than that of said first sail assembly, said second sail assembly being axially adjustable between a lowered position beneath said table and a raised position extending through the slot in said table to vertically remove a coil contained within one of said chambers from the coil support plate associated with said one chamber, and means for inclining said raised second sail assembly to remove said coil from said one coil forming chamber through its side opening.
 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further characterized by means pivotally supported by said coil forming chambers for movement between closed positions blocking said side openings and open positions permitting removal of coils therethrough.
 13. For use in handling a product length which has been previously formed into a continuous series of rings and which because of previous manufacturing operations, the rings making up the front and/or tail end sections of the product length are unacceptable, whereas the rings making up the remaining intermediate section are acceptable, an apparatus for separating the unacceptable rings from the acceptable rings and for collecting the acceptable and unacceptable rings in separate coils, said apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving the rings, said receiving means defining a vertical path of ring descent along which the rings drop in a helical formation under the influence of gravity; a plurality of coil forming means, each of which is movable into and out of a coil forming position underlying said receiving means, and at which position the rings dropping from said reforming means are accumulated in coil form by the coil forming means; first and second vertically spaced independently operable intercepting means for interrupting the descent of rings through said receiving means, and for temporarily supporting rings in said receiving means; and, separating means located beneath said first and second intercepting means between said receiving means and said coil forming means; said separating means being operable to sever a product strand connecting rings accumulated in said coil forming means to rings temporarily supported by said intercepting means in said receiving means.
 14. A method of handling a product length which has been formed into a continuous series of rings, and which because of previous manufacturing operations, the rings making up the fronT and tail end sections of the product length are unacceptable, whereas the rings making up the remaining intermediate section of the product length are acceptable, said method comprising the steps of: (a) separating the unacceptable rings from the acceptable rings at a location overlying a coil forming station, and (b) employing a plurality of collecting devices which are movable into and out of said coil forming station for gathering the acceptable and unacceptable rings into separate coils. 